Jerome wheelock



@with tetra datent ifftrr VLetters Patent 1Y0. 75,714, dfitecl M'mctV17, 1868.

IMPROVEMNT IN -PIS'IOIISl iilge .dgehitle referat tu in tigcetcttersetent :mt nuttig aan ,titte 5min,

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TO` ALL WHOM'IT MAY CONGERN:

Be it known that I, IEROAIIE WHEELOCK, of lh'orcester, in the county ofWorcester, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have invented n ew anduseful Improvements in Steam-Piston Packing; and I do hereby declarethat the followingris a full, clear, and exact description thereof,which will enable others skilled inthe art to make and use the saine,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which make apart ofthis speciiication, in which- Figure 1 represents a perspective view ofthe ring.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the same.

Figure 3 is a cross-section. l

Figure el is au elevation of my lexpansive packing-ring.

lhis invention relates to certain improvements in that class of pistonsin which sectional or other expansive packing-rings are used incombination with a grooved or other-shaped ring placed between thepistonhead and the follower. A I i The invention consists in providing awedge-shaped opening in the grooved or other-shaped ring, into whichopening is fitted a corresponding-shaped piece, sa'id piece being heldfirmly in place by suitable fastenings, to he hereinafter more fullyexplained. v

A represents a ring, which may he applied to the ordinary piston. Itswidth should be made such as will allow of its being lirmly confined bythe follower, and oi such a diameter as will allow it to fit loosely inthe bore of the engine-cylinder. This ring slprovided with one or moreannular grooves on the periphery, into which are fitted suitable'expansive packing-rings, which operate in u. manner to prevent theescape of steam before having done its work. In order to be able toapply this ring to pistons now in use in upright engines, whore thepiston-rod is connected at the top, I cut a wedge-shaped lopeningthrough the side of the ring', into which the piece B is nicely fitted,and held in place by the strap C, through which the screws or bolts 0l epass,

and are screwed into the nutsfg. These nuts are iitted into dove-tailedcavities on either side of the opening in the ring, thc shape andposition of which are best seen in iig. 3. 'lhe piece B should be groundto it steamtight, and in order to draw it snugly into place, thedistance between the holes in the strap C, through which the screwspass, should be madeoi' such proportion as will allow of aboutone-sixteenth 'of an inch draught" sideways on the screws, when,byslippiiig the piece B back and catching the screws inthe nuts, andthen by forcing the strap into place, the whole is conncd in a securemanner. I i

. Should it be necessary to enlarge the diameter of the ring, it may bedone by putting lslips ofiron between the ring and the wcdgc-pieoe,when, by filing oli` the end of the nuts equal to the thickness of the"slips, the screws may be put in as before. In reducing the diameter,the slips may he applied in front of the nuts, and the wedge-piecereduced, `which will allow the ring to contract.

I have shown the screws/cle as being screwed into the nuts fg, but holesmay be tapped into the ring A on each side of wedgeshaped cavity, intowhich the screws may be screwed, when, by making holes in strap Celongated, and putting pieces of iron on either side ofscrews in saidholes, the same results may he obtained without changing the nature ofmy invention( i It is important that the wedgeepiece should be heldrigidly in place, and should correspond in width with the other portionsof the ring. Irthercfore recommend that it be fitted into place beforethe ring is turned, when the whole may be nished in one i'cperation.There are many engines new in use, especially those of large diameter ofcylinder, which are worn much larger in that part over which the pistoumoves, and it being important that my ring should nearly iill in thelargest place or wearing part of the cylinder, the ring may be turned tothe largest diameter; and in order to get it in the cylinder with theexpansive packing in the grooves, the wedge-piece may be reinoved,whichwill allow the ring to contract, and after it has passed the smallerpart or counter-bore, said piece may be put in place again and fastenedas before. l l

I have represented my ring with two annular grooves on the periphery.Into each of these grooves is loosely fitted a packing-ring, which isexpanded to {it the cylinder steam-tight atA each alternate stroke ofthe engine, by the action of the steam.l

H represents an expansive packing-ring made in one piece, with a jointso arranged as to allowthe ring to expand perfectly free, and yet worksteam-tight. It may be made of cast iron, brass, or other metal; and inorder that it may be kept out against the inner surface of the cylinderwhen not using steam, I make cavities or pockets, z, in the inside ofthe ring, into which may be placed steel springs, said cavities beingmade of' sulicient depth to admit of an elliptic-shaped spring, therebyinsuring great elasticity and ease of action.- This ring is especiallyadapted to cylinders of a large diameter, and being very light andpliable, is easily adjusted to the inner surface of the cylinder, by theaction of the steam, which is admitted behind it over' the outer flangeof the grooves, the said anges being turnedvsmaller than the cylinder,to allow steam to press' against a portion of the expansive rings,therebyr keeping them pressed against the inner surface of the grooves',and admitting steam down between the rings and anges, thus keeping thempressed out against the cylinder. The arrangements of the joints arebest seen in iig. 3. I have essayed various ways of making such a ring,but the' following I have adopted las the best known to me: f

I cast or make'the tongue lapped on the opposite side of the ring, andseparate from it by a core, and when the tongue and its seat areproperly milled out and-fitted, it may be sprung over the top andintoplace, and clamped by means of the cavities in the inside, and turned tothe proper size. A ring constructed in this way can be made at the leastpossible expense, and. when used in cylinders of a'large diameter, isvery successful in its operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

The ring lA, when the same is provided with a wedge-shaped cavity, andcorresponding piece fitted into the same, in combination with the strapC and screws de, substantially as shown and described.

' JEROME WHEELOCK.

Witnesses:

Cms. WILBE, G. H. Sonrnwrcn.

